Sellaronda Skimarathon

The Sellaronda Skimarathon, a Dolomite legend

The Sellaronda Skimarathon is one of the most famous and captivating ski mountaineering competitions in the Alps. Every year in mid-March, hundreds of pairs of athletes challenge themselves by night along the iconic circuit around the Sella massif, the vast Dolomite plateau that connects Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Arabba, and Val di Fassa. Established in 1994, the race has since become an unmissable event on the international ski mountaineering calendar, attracting participants from over twenty nations.

The route: 42 km and four Dolomite passes

The course spans approximately 42 kilometers with 2,700 meters of positive elevation gain, sequentially tackling the four great passes surrounding the Sella: Campolongo Pass, Pordoi Pass, Sella Pass, and Gardena Pass. The circuit traverses some of the most stunning locations in the Dolomites, including Arabba, Canazei, and Selva di Val Gardena, in a setting made even more spectacular by the darkness and the athletes' headlamps. The race begins at dusk, as the mountains turn deep blue and the luminous caravan of competitors sets off.

Corvara, heart of the 2026 edition

The event is itinerant, rotating its start and finish location among the municipalities of the ski area. In 2026, the race headquarters was Corvara in Badia, in Alta Badia, Province of Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige): here, athletes started and finished after completing the Sella loop. Corvara, a historic cradle of Dolomite ski mountaineering, provides the ideal environment for an event that combines top-level competition with UNESCO World Heritage landscapes.

A night-time race for pairs

The Sellaronda Skimarathon is run in teams of two athletes, which can be men's, women's, or mixed. Ski mountaineering gear, climbing skins, and a headlamp are mandatory equipment for tackling technical climbs and demanding descents in the darkness of the alpine night. The number of participants is capped for safety reasons: every year, about 550 pairs, totaling 1,100 athletes, take to the start, and registration regularly sells out in just a few weeks.

Organization and tradition

The event is organized by the Val di Fassa Grandi Eventi Committee, based in Canazei, in collaboration with the towns of the Sella circuit and the Dolomiti Superski area. Beyond the race, the Sellaronda Skimarathon is a grand celebration of sport and mountain life, with an evening awards ceremony that caps off a night of emotion and high-altitude exertion in the heart of the Dolomites.